Composition for tanning hides and skins.



' remove the lime.

ATS A N are. f

MARTIN B. LARSON, or MOLSON, WASHINGTON."-

1,147,1 78. N0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN B. LARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Molson, in the county of Okanogan and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Comp0s1- tions for Tanning Hides and Skins; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved composition and process for tanning hldes and skins.

The object of the invention is to provide a composition and process by the use of which hides and skins may be quickly and cheaply tanned and rendered soft and'pliable, yet are strong and tough after being subjected to said treatment.

In carrying out this process, the ludesor skins to be tanned, are first soaked in soft water until perfectly soft and then all flesh is removed therefrom. .Hard hides should be worked over on the flesh side to soften them and they are then subjected to the following treatment to loosen the hair, to wit: The hides to be treated are immersed in a solution of air slaked lime and water of the consistency of a thin batter and they are left in this bath until the hair slips, the slipping operation being facilitated by working or lifting the hides in the bath, the oftener they are lifted the more quickly the hair will slip. When the hair is removable, the hides are taken from the bath and the hair removed in any suitable manner. After the hair and all flesh have been removed, the hides are placed in clean running water to To determine when the lime has been thoroughly removed, the hides may be pressed and if a dent is left therein after pressure, it is an indication that the lime has been removed. If it is desired to hasten the removal of the lime, the hides may be placed upon a table or other support and worked, the flesh side with a steel sleek and the grain side with a stone sleek. The hides are now ready for tanning.

The tanning composition to which the skins and hides are to be subjected, comprises for tanning a single hide 83% of gambier and 16%% of common salt and to each five pounds of gambier used, one pound of Epsom salts is added, the latter being Specification of Letters Patent.

COMPOSITION FOR TANNING HIDES AND SKINSQ.

added to. When more "than one hide is" to,-

be tanned, for each extra hide add one. half of the specified quantities of ingredients. For tanning calves, goat, sheep, deer and hides of similar thickness, for a singlefhide 11} pounds of gambler are used with an water, the-gambier being dissolved in a. i

I PatentedJuly20-,1915, Application filed January 14,1915. Seria1No.2,24 =2. i v 7 brass vat which will not'be aflected by the chemical action of the gambier. The dis' solved salt and gambierare then mixed together in a brass vat and the Epsom salts added thereto in the proportions above specified. After this composition has been so prepared, the hide is immersed therein and allowed to remain from two to four days 4 f ,7'5

when it will be found to be perfectly tanned.

For tanning the hides of yearlings and two year old cattle, horses, mules and other hides of similar thickness, for one hide three pounds of gambier. are used'with salt. to

the amount of 16%-%-of the total quantity of the mixture, said ingredients being dissolved separately in five gallons of hotwater and the hide is then immersed in this com I position and allowed to remain from six to ten days during which time, it will be found to be thoroughly tanned.

For tanning cow and ox hides and the hides of animals of similar description and thickness, for a single hide seven pounds of gambler are dlssolved as dlrected above and a quantity of salt equal to 16%% of the total amount of salt and gambier used, six

gallons of hot water being employed in this composition. After the composition has been prepared as described above, the hides are allowed to remain therein from fifteen to twenty-five days which time will be found necessary to perfectly tan hides of this character. V

For tanning sole leather the same composition is usedas for tanning cow, and ox hides but the hides are allowed to remain in the mixture from eighteen to thirty days," a longer time beingrequired for such heavy material.

The various compositionsabove given are designed for tanning a single hide, and when WVhen the hides are removed from the tan i ning bath and drained, they should be oiled slightly on the grain side and smoothed out and then allow to dry in the shade; or, if found necessary, the latter may be oiled on both sides and the oil thoroughly rubbed thereinto until thoroughly dried.

I claim as my invention:

A composition for tanning hides and skins consisting of of gambier and 16-? of common salt dissolved separately in hot my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witl3 IIGSSGS.

MARTIN B. LARSON. Witnesses E. A. WILLIAMs, OsoAR PETERSON.

v Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

